No show at Akua Donkor robbers’ trial

An Accra circuit court yesterday could not commence the hearing of the case involving the four persons who reportedly robbed Akua Donkor, founder of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) and 2016 presidential hopeful.

This was because the substantive judge, Aboagye Tandoh, is on leave.

Although both the complainant and the accused persons were in court yesterday, the case could not be heard and was adjourned until February 6, this year.

The accused persons are Yakubu Yusif, trader; the Central Regional Chairman of the GFP, Banabas Kayase; driver/secretary of the party, Opoku Agyemang, trader and Abdul Razak Shaibu, a member of the GPRTU task force.

Two other accomplices – Joe and Nuamah aka Lion – are currently on the run.

Charges

According to Chief Superintendent Duutu Tuaruka, the accused persons on December 30, 2016 at Taifa in Accra, conspired to rob the GFP flag bearer.

The prosecution said the accused persons at about 2:30 am at Sowutuom, also a suburb of Accra, robbed Madam Akua Donkor at gunpoint and snatched her travelling bag containing plane ticket, Ghanaian passport, voter’s ID card, $30,000 and GH¢3,000.

At the last hearing lawyers for the accused persons among other things, prayed for bail, a request the court, presided over by Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, rejected.

Facts

Prosecuting, C/Supt. Tuaruka said Yusif and Kayase had information that Akua Donkor had in her possession $30,000 which she intended to travel with.

He said Kayase then agreed with the rest of the accused persons to rob Akua of that amount, adding that Opoku called Madam Akua Donkor to meet him in his house at Taifa for some discussions.

The prosecution said that the complainant went to the house of Opoku together with Yusif and Kayase where Kayase demanded that she (complainant) hand over all her car keys or else she would not travel.

C/Supt. Tuaruka said thereafter, Yusif and Kayase called Razak on phone to arrange for Joe and Lion to carry out the operation.

The prosecutor said on the said day, Akua Donkor, together with Yusif and Kayase, were on board her Mitsubishi Pajero with registration number GT 6028-16 from Taifa and heading towards the Kotoka International Airport for her to catch a flight to the United States of America.

“Akua decided to pass home and on reaching Sowutuom immediately after the Agbeve Herbal Clinic area, Opoku called Kayase on phone and asked where they have reached while Razak, Joe and Lion were waiting to execute their agenda,” according to the prosecution.

The three, armed with guns on board an unregistered motorbike, emerged behind the vehicle, stressing that “as soon as Kayase spotted the armed men, he reduced the speed, showing double hazard indicator, implying that the complainant was in the vehicle.”

Eventually, they succeeded in robbing Madam Akua Donkor, the prosecution underscored.